Thursday, October 9, 2014

Quote of the day

The NRA fully understands the racial dynamic at play here. As long as we can blame something other
than guns, America will not have to come to terms with the truth that
violence is a complicated phenomenon that is made far more lethal by the
easy availability and killing power of firearms. And for an
organization with an overwhelmingly conservative, white base, that
"something other" is minorities.

The fact that this issue is actually complicated if probably why most gun loons don't really get it.

The same reason SS and the other gun loons that comment here never have anything to say about the racist garbage Nugent and other NRA members spout. They never speak against that racist garbage, or even answer direct questions put to them about the NRA racist garbage. But they support the NRA, so it's not unreasonable to say they support the NRA racist garbage.

Would you say the percentage of black NRA members is equal or higher to the percentage of blacks in the general population?

I have little doubt that it's significantly lower--but what of it? That doesn't indicate that they wouldn't be welcomed. I'd argue that by bringing Colion Noir on as a spokesman, they seem to be trying to attract more black members.

Most frat parties probably lack many Victoria's Secret models as guests, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be welcome.

"Would you say the percentage of black NRA members is equal or higher to the percentage of blacks in the general population?"

A recent Mother Jones article put minority representation on the board at 7%, compared to the general population with 28%. But then perhaps we should compare it to the 5% representation in the US Senate. In the end, the voters decide in these things.

Nice dodge, but you didn't answer the question as usual. Blacks have learned to live with racists right next to them and especially work next to them. Your conclusion that because blacks work with Nugent, then Nugent can't possibly be racist, is ridiculous and again you are supporting Nugent's racism by giving such a ridiculous explanation.

I'm curious as to how you expect SSG to answer that question, Mikeb. Not only does the NRA not release its membership list, as far as I know, it doesn't even release demographic data, like race.

In fact, I cannot imagine how the NRA itself would know the racial breakdown of its members, since the membership application form has no box in which to fill in race or ethnicity information. Kinda what one would expect from a group that believes in racial equality.

Therefore, with no numbers available, feel free to make up your own, based on your . . . unique scientific approach: "I had asparagus for dinner last night, therefore, the NRA membership is at least 99% white."

"And that 7% on the board drops to what in the general membership, ss?"

My guess is that it would be larger, similar to the representation in the Senate. But then, since I'm not a member of the NRA, I have no idea on whether they collect demographic information on their members. Perhaps someone else can clarify that if they have first hand knowledge. Its easy to measure the board of directors for this since they're public figures and the number is small.

And by the way, Mikeb, if, as you apparently believe, NRA's general membership is "whiter" than is the board of directors (who are all voted in by the general NRA members), that would mean that white members are disproportionately voting for minorities to the leadership role. How do you plan to fit that inconvenient little fact into your "NRA is racist" narrative?

So what you are saying, Mike, is that NRA members disproportionately vote for minority board members. Tell me how that fits in with your narrative again? Anyway you cut it, those minority board members have to be voted in by white members.